第79章

The last circumstance to be enumerated among the disadvantages of political association is its tendency to disorder and tumult. Nothing is more notorious than the ease with which the conviviality of a crowded feast may degenerate into the depredations of a riot. While the sympathy of opinion catches from man to man， especially among persons whose passions have been little used to the curb of judgement， actions may be determined on which the solitary reflection of all would have rejected. There is nothing more barbarous， blood-thirsty and unfeeling than the triumph of a mob. It should be remembered that the members of such associations are ever employed in cultivating a sentiment peculiarly hostile to political justice， antipathy to individuals；第一章ot a benevolent love of equality， but a bitter and personal detestation of their oppressors.

But， though association， in the received sense of that term， must be granted to be an instrument of very dangerous nature， unreserved communication， especially among persons who are already awakened to the pursuit of truth， is of no less unquestionable advantage. There is at present in the world a cold reserve that keeps man at a distance from man. There is an art in the practice of which individuals communicate for ever， without anyone telling his neighbour what estimate he forms of his attainments and character， how they ought to be employed， and how to be improved. There is a sort of domestic tactics， the object of which is to elude curiosity， and keep up the tenour of conversation， without the disclosure either of our feelings or opinions. The friend of justice will have no object more deeply at heart than the annihilation of this duplicity. The man whose heart overflows with kindness for his species will habituate himself to consider， in each successive occasion of social intercourse， how that occasion may be most beneficently improved. Among the topics to which he will be anxious to awaken attention， politics will occupy a principal share.

Books have by their very nature but a limited operation； though， on account of their permanence， their methodical disquisition， and their easiness of access， they are entitled to the foremost place. The number of those who almost wholly abstain from reading is exceedingly great. Books， to those by whom they are read， have a sort of constitutional coldness. We review the arguments of an "insolent innovator" with sullenness， and are unwilling to expand our minds to take in their force. It is with difficulty that we obtain the courage to strike into untrodden paths， and question tenets that have been generally received. But conversation accustoms us to hear a variety of sentiments， obliges us to exercise patience and attention， and gives freedom and elasticity to our disquisitions. A thinking man， if he will recollect his intellectual history， will find that he has derived inestimable benefit from the stimulus and surprise of colloquial suggestions；Chapter nd， if he review the history of literature， will perceive that minds of great acuteness and ability have commonly existed in a cluster.

It follows that the promoting the best interests of mankind eminently depends upon the freedom of social communication. Let us figure to ourselves a number of individuals who， having stored their minds with reading and reflection， are accustomed， in candid and unreserved conversation， to compare their ideas， suggest their doubts， examine their mutual difficulties and cultivate a perspicuous and animated manner of delivering their sentiments.

Let us suppose that their intercourse is not confined to the society of each other， but that they are desirous extensively to communicate the truths with which they are acquainted. Let us suppose their illustrations to be not more distinguished by impartiality and demonstrative clearness than by the mildness of their temper， and a spirit of comprehensive benevolence.

We shall then have an idea of knowledge as perpetually gaining ground， unaccompanied with peril in the means of its diffusion. Their hearers will be instigated to impart their acquisitions to still other hearers， and the circle of instruction will perpetually increase. Reason will spread， and not a brute and unintelligent sympathy.